Respectively, the three primary-election candidates for the 5th District City Council seat — incumbent Dan Irving, Casey Johnson and Dan Adler — appear to have staked their niches.

“I live in the north end,” Irving said about the part of Peoria he represents. “I’m just happy to be there to do something positive for the city in a positive way.”

Irving’s opponents in the primary Feb. 26 appear positive they can be effective in representing Peoria’s fastest-growing area.

Johnson bases his philosophy, at least in part, on his experience as an assistant high school and college basketball coach. He began that seven-year career when he was 20, by coaching high school ball while attending Knox College in Galesburg.

“It’s the coolest experience I could have had,” said Johnson, who coached preps at Knoxville and Elmwood, his alma mater.

The work ethic and cooperation necessary in athletics translates directly to the political field, according to Johnson.

“It’s about collaborating and pulling other experts in,” said Johnson, who also coached later at Knox. “If I’m your financial adviser, I’m not going to write your will, and I’m not going to do your taxes. I’m going to go to experts for that.

“Building coalitions and relationship-building is going to be the biggest thing.”

The biggest thing in this race for Adler might be numbers. That’s no surprise, considering his background in engineering.

In Adler’s estimation, the population figures in his district call for attention. City services must be able to meet population growth, he said.

Adler also probably needs to meet as many 5th District voters as possible, given the unusual nature of his candidacy.

Adler is running as a registered write-in candidate, which became necessary after the Peoria Board of Election Commissioners ruled him off the ballot because his nominating petitions were not notarized.

The response to Adler’s adjusted campaign has been overwhelmingly positive, he said.

“I’ve had a number of people tell me if I’m running as a write-in and how much (work) that takes, I must be doing it for the right reasons,” Adler said.

“Of course, name recognition is a lot tougher if you’re not physically on the ballot, but I think we’ve combated that well.”

Over the last month, Adler said his campaign has visited about 2,500 houses in the district.

Over his term, Irving said he’s received about 12,000 emails from those he represents. He said he’s responded to them and their requests as part of what he considers his first priority — constituent service.

“When I ran four years ago, I ran on servant leadership. To serve others and to be a leader,” Irving said.

Page 2 of 2 -
Part of that service was joining the rest of the council in bringing the city budget under control, he said. Another part is helping to facilitate reconstruction of Orange Prairie Road and the westward extension of Pioneer Parkway to at least Radnor Road.

The Orange Prairie project has led to various retail and lodging establishments expressing interest in the area, according to Irving.

“Those are the kind of things we need to do and support to get businesses to come to this town,” Irving said.

Irving is running for re-election about 10 months after a criminal charge of patronizing a prostitute was dismissed, after the primary witness could not be located. Irving has been steadfast in denying the allegation.

In 2011, he was convicted of misdemeanor disorderly conduct in connection to an incident at his former wife’s business.